Courses
The listing of a course description here does not guarantee a course’s being offered in a particular semester. Please refer to the published schedule of classes on the Student Link for confirmation a class is actually being taught and for specific course meeting dates and times.
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MET AD 857: Marketing Strategies
Strategic and operational marketing issues arising in the firm's operations. Topics include market screening, decisions, entry strategies, product/service development, as well as designing the marketing plan and its implementation. 4 cr. -
MET AD 893: Special Topics: Politics, Public Relations and Public Policy: The Boston Harbor Clean Up
Examines various approaches to developing "high tech" innovation based economies as a route to self sufficiency and growth. Factors studied include both structural reforms in the political, legal and economic areas, and government sponsored initiatives in higher education, basic research, private venture capital, grants to support new product development by promising ventures, and the creation of science and technology parks and "incubators." Students independently research, write, and present studies of the strategies of various countries. This will be augmented by case studies, reading, and guest speakers on strategies being employed in Taiwan, Thailand, and Brazil. -
MET AH 111: Survey of Western Art I
This course examines the history of western art from ancient times through the Gothic Period in Western Europe. Through classroom discussions, assigned readings, and, should time allow, museum visits, students will become familiar with the development of a variety of early forms of art. With each new style or period, we will attempt both to describe the works themselves, and investigate the cultural, social, religious, political and personal contexts that surround the object. -
MET AH 112: Survey of Western Art II
Continues MET AH 111, but can be taken separately. Chronological survey of European art from the Renaissance to the present. Emphasis on the relation of art to its historical and cultural context. -
MET AH 216: Basic Digital Photography
Extensive practical application in basic aspects of digital photography. This course covers camera operation, image processing in black and white and an introduction to shooting color and color management at the end of the semester and the basics of Photoshop. This class will offer free use of DSLR cameras that can be signed out for all the assignments, and free downloads and use of the software that we will use for the course. Students no longer need to supply their own camera. Students will use their own laptops to edit and produce photos for their assignments in this class. Photoshop and other software needed for the class will be made available to students for little or no fee. Laptops will be used in every class session. -
MET AH 315: History of Photography
The goal of this course is to understand the history of photographic images, their meaning and impact on society. Photographic images are part of the landscape of our experience. We will examine the development of photography as an art form, a social document and a powerful tool for communication and exploration. Lectures, discussions and museum visits will focus on photographic movements, specific photographers, artists and the intersection of photography with other realms of human endeavor. Students will create images to assist them in understanding the simple and complex dimensions of creating photographs. -
MET AH 342: Masters of the Renaissance: Giotto to Botticelli
This course examines the origin and flowering of the Italian Renaissance, including major artistic figures such as Leonardo, Giotto, Michelangelo, and Donatello. We will explore the impact of early scientific inquiry, the fascination with classical antiquity, and the changing role of the artist in society through the visual arts and architecture of Italy. -
MET AH 370: Nineteenth-Century Art
An examination of the new concepts of reality that grew out of the French Revolution, and how these concepts influenced the critical theories of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art. -
MET AH 372: Modern Art
Analysis of the work and thought of major masters of twentieth-century painting, sculpture, architecture, and photography, including the School of Paris and the New York School. -
MET AH 380: Special Topics in Art History
Program faculty selects seminar topics of current interest, usually with a singular focus, in the field. -
MET AH 517: Seminar: The Art World
An examination of the arts institutions, issues, and forces that shape the contemporary art world. Topics include government cultural policy, National Endowment for the Arts, museums, symphonies, curators, critics, artists' rights, public art, corporate support, censorship, feminism and multiculturalism. See also Arts Administration. Stamped approval required. -
MET AN 101: Introduction to Cultural Anthropology
This course is an introduction to the field of cultural anthropology. Cultural anthropology seeks to understand the variety of ways that humans organize their experience and live in the world, including different configurations of kinship, sex, gender, ethnicity, race, religion, politics, and economics. This course introduces students to some of that variety by examining how societies in different regions of the world differ and how both global and local social processes transform them. The course also explores the ways that anthropologists frame their inquiries and how over time they developed new approaches to these issues and to core concepts like culture and society. -
MET AN 102: Human Biology, Behavior, and Evolution
Biology relevant to the behavioral sciences. Introduces basic principles of evolutionary biology, animal social behavior, primate adaptions, human origins, genetic/hormonal/neural bases of behavior, and issues of human socioecology and adaptions. Discussions highlight nature-vs-nurture issues. -
MET AN 210: Medical Anthropology
An investigation of the social dimensions of health and illness, exploring the diverse ways in which humans use cultural resources to cope with disease and develop medical and healing systems. The course also examines variations in the definition, diagnosis, experience, and treatment of illnesses across cultures, including the critical examination of biomedicine. Course materials facilitate the exploration of beliefs regarding some common assumptions about health and human behavior, using the tools provided by anthropological theories and concepts. SS -
MET AN 250: Understanding Folklore and Folklife
The ways individuals, families, and communities express themselves, their beliefs, and their values within their own culture. Emphasis on meaning carried by oral literature, folk arts and crafts, social customs and festivals, and family folklore. -
MET AN 348: Investigating Contemporary Globalization
This course examines the various processes that have created a more interconnected "globalized" world, including the greater movement of peoples, ideas, goods, and capital across cultural and national borders; new communication technologies; a growing international division of labor; and increased attention to issues such as universal human rights and the experiences of women. Key debates include the question of whether these processes produce global cultural homogenization or greater cultural diversity and whether globalization reproduces power dynamics or allows for new freedoms and opportunities. SS -
MET AR 510: Arts Leaders Forum
The "Arts Leaders Forum" consists of a series of conversations with arts leaders, including entrepreneurs, community leaders and established industry experts. Each week guests will share their experiences with the class. In addition to guest speakers, students will focus on leadership skills and exercises through readings and cases. The goal of this course is to give students insight into the pressing issues of managing arts organizations, to gain leadership skills and to provide insight into career options. -
MET AR 550: Raising Funds and Grant Writing for Nonprofit Organizations
An examination of ways to raise funds from government, foundation, corporate, and individual sources. The following topics will be addressed through lectures and case analysis: the history of philanthropy, the planning and research process, proposal and grant preparation, program evaluation, and the role of the board and staff in developing effective fundraising strategies. -
MET AR 577: Comparative Cultural Policy and Administration
Drawing on the resources of Boston University and its partner institutions in Boston, London, and Paris, this course examines the nature of cultural policy in the United States, United Kingdom, France, and the European Union. Through class discussions and readings (drawn from public policy and economics), lectures by leading arts administration practitioners and policy makers in Paris and London, and visits to important international cultural venues, this course will examine the impact of cultural and national differences on the cultural policy making process. -
MET AR 587: The Arts in Barcelona
This course will look at the ways in which the arts have played a key role in the history of Barcelona and by extension, Catalonia. To understand the city and its inhabitants and their sensibility one needs to have some knowledge of history -- particularly 20th century history. To the Catalonian, Spain is to some degree an intellectual and political construct. With its own language, culture traditions and cuisine the Catalonian sees himself as distinct from the Castilian Spanish speaking population of Spain. As a culture that experienced considerable oppression -- especially during the Franco regime, Catalonians are eager to celebrate and preserve their distinct customs and traditions. This has become particularly important in recent years as the movement for Catalan independence has gained momentum. The course will meet several times on the Charles River Campus before travel to Barcelona.

